Eye probe for treatment with ultrasonic waves

Abstract

A probe for treating an ocular pathology. The probe has a ring including a cone frustum having a first end suitable for supporting an ultrasound generator and a second end for coming into contact with an eye of a patient. The ultrasound generator includes a first base intended to come to face the first end, and a second base opposite the first base. The probe further includes a flow regulator for eliminating the bubbles contained in a coupling fluid flowing to the first base when filling the probe with the fluid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A probe for treating an eye pathology comprising:
 a ring including a truncated cone and a skirt coaxial with the truncated cone, wherein the truncated cone has a first end which supports means for generating ultrasonic waves and a second end which comes into contact with an eye of a patient, and 
 the means for generating ultrasonic waves including a crown, wherein the crown has a first base facing the first end and a second base opposed to the first base, the skirt extending outwards from the first end and surrounding the crown, 
 a guide configured to guide sliding of the means for generating ultrasonic waves relatively to the ring, and 
 a flow rate regulator comprising an aperture defined between the skirt and the crown, the first base of the crown is configured to be releasably coupled with the first end of the ring in order to define the aperture, wherein thickness of the aperture is in a range between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, and wherein said aperture extends over a whole height of the crown so that the flow rate regulator is configured to: 
 allow passing of a coupling fluid between the second and first bases, said coupling fluid allowing transmission of ultrasonic waves towards the eye of the patient, and 
 eliminate bubbles contained in the coupling fluid flowing towards the first base during filling of the probe with said coupling fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends over a whole perimeter of the crown. 
     
     
       3. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the first base of the means for generating ultrasonic waves comprises a hydrophilic treatment. 
     
     
       4. The probe according to  claim 1 , further comprising a purger for an exhaust of gases during the filling of the probe with the coupling fluid. 
     
     
       5. The probe according to  claim 4 , wherein the crown having a central channel, and the purger comprising at least one chimney coaxial with the central channel and extending outwards on the second base. 
     
     
       6. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a groove laid out on the ring and a slider laid out on the means for generating ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
       7. The probe according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least two suction nozzles on the second end, the at least two suction nozzles being laid out so as to be localized in a transversal plane of the eye when the probe is positioned on the eye. 
     
     
       8. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating ultrasonic waves comprise a gripper extending on the second base. 
     
     
       9. The probe according to  claim 1 , further comprising blockers for immobilizing the ring relatively to the means for generating ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
       10. The probe according to  claim 9 , wherein the blockers comprise a pair of elastic tabs with shape memory extending at a periphery of the second base, each tab including a bulge for cooperating by clipping with a bulge made on the ring so as to immobilize in translation the ring relative to the means for generating ultrasonic waves. 
     
     
       11. The probe according to  claim 10 , wherein each bulge has a V-shape. 
     
     
       12. The probe according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least one abutment for limiting displacement of the pair of elastic tabs. 
     
     
       13. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the aperture is between 0.2 and 2 mm. 
     
     
       14. The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the aperture is equal to 0.5 mm.